Rexulti (Brexpiprazole), is an atypical antipsychotic approved by the FDA for the treatment of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (as an adjunct). The drug was engineered via collaboration between pharmaceutical companies Otsuka and Lundbeck and is considered the successor to Abilify (aripiprazole), a formerly top-selling antipsychotic medication with an expired patent. Although Rexulti is marketed …
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an evergreen tree of the coffee (Rubiaceae) family native to countries such as: Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and Thailand. It is best known for generating leaves that contain upwards of 40 distinct psychoactive compounds. Pharmacological research indicates that the psychoactive constituents of kratom – most prominent being [indole alkaloids] …
Sinemet is a pharmaceutical drug engineered by Merck that combines Carbidopa (a peripheral enzymatic inhibitor of DOPA decarboxylase) and Levodopa (an agent that crosses the blood-brain barrier to increase central concentrations of dopamine); hence it is frequently referred to as “Carbidopa-Levodopa.” The drug was initially approved by the U.S. FDA in 1988 for the treatment …
Synthroid (Levothyroxine) is a synthetic form of T4 (thyroxine), a hormone secreted by the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. Individuals with insufficient levels of thyroxine (T4) exhibit symptoms of hypothyroidism such as: depression, lethargy, malaise, and sleepiness. Regular administration of synthroid (levothyroxine) is thought to reverse symptoms of hypothyroidism and normalize all neurophysiological processes …
Saphris (Asenapine) is a drug that was approved by the FDA in 2007 for the treatment of schizophrenia and the manic phases of bipolar disorder. It functions by acting primarily on 5-HT2A serotonergic receptors and D2 dopaminergic receptors as an antagonist. It also elicits effects on a variety of other serotonergic receptors (5HT2B, 5HT2C, 5HT6, …
Serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter that most people associate with mood. It is a derivative of tryptophan and is present throughout the body in the CNS, GI tract, and blood. Most people have heard that if you have low serotonin, you’re more likely to be depressed, but not many have heard of high serotonin. While …
Zubsolv is a drug formulated with both buprenorphine and naloxone. It is primarily used to treat opioid dependency and addiction, but is also sometimes used for moderate chronic pain management. Most users of Zubsolv are taking it for opioid replacement therapy in attempt to transition off of a more potent opioid. Zubsolv is considered helpful …